Outlook: The Storm lost its opener against Gannon on Thursday, 36-33. Coming off three straight 3-8 seasons, LEC was picked fifth in GLIAC South Division preseason coaches poll. Anthony Bilal and Brandon Phenix, a pair of 170-pound scatbacks, combined for 1,341 yards last season. Bilal scored three TDs Thursday. QB Brendan Gallagher started the last five games, and top WRs Anthony Kukwa and Tommy Jackson return. LEC allowed nearly 40 points per game in 2012 and finished last in the GLIAC in total defense. Top returning tackler LB Marcus Rogers had 99 stops.

Outlook: Falcons are in their fourth season of varsity football and will play their first games on campus at a newly constructed artificial surface field. They left the GLIAC for the Mountain East Conference, which has eight West Virginia schools, one in Virginia and Urbana (Ohio). Picked eighth in preseason coaches poll. Senior RB Pedro Powell rushed for a school-record 1,460 yards and had 11 TDs. QB Ray Russ passed for 2,265 yards and 23 TDs; threw 18 interceptions. Mikhail Morgan and Colton Wallace each caught more than 50 passes. Offense averaged 28 points per game; defense gave up 46 points per game.

Outlook: Eight starters return on offense, two on defense. Senior RB Kenny Riordan suffered a season-ending injury in Week 2 after a promising sophomore campaign. Junior Manny Sicre went down in the ninth game after combining for 1,050 yards and six TDs rushing and receiving. Senior Erik Olson and junior Billy Beecher probably will rotate again at QB. Olson passed for 1,726 yards and 14 TDs. Beecher rushed for 247 yards and four TDs. DE Brandon Bryant (27 tackles, 3.5 sacks) and SS Jordan Banky (47 tackles) are the lone returners on defense.

Outlook: Picked 10th in NCAC preseason coaches poll. Returns six starters on offense and nine on defense. George Blake, injured in the first game last year, battles for time at QB with Notre Dame College transfer Rob Partridge, whose career began at Miami (Ohio). Senior RB Caleb Jones returns and there's depth at WR with Richard Simpson, Darren Gibson, Brendon James and Mike Arnold. Senior OL Dan Fazio was All-NCAC and returns alongside Matt Russell and Kendrick Miller. Five players return who had starts in the defensive backfield, including All-NCAC senior Josh Peacock. LB Tyler Williams had 92 tackles.

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